#15: Dodging Difficult Conversations? Here’s What It’s Really Costing You
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
Release Date: 07/14/2025
#22: Stuck in Self-Doubt? How to Lead with Lasting Confidence
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
Stuck in Self-Doubt? How to Lead with Lasting Confidence Imposter syndrome doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter how high you climb or how much you achieve — self-doubt still finds a way in. In fact, 71% of U.S. CEOs admit to experiencing imposter syndrome (Korn Ferry, 2024). If the very people running billion-dollar companies struggle with insecurity, then maybe it’s time we stop seeing it as a weakness and start recognizing it as part of the human condition. In this episode of the MPWR Podcast, we pull back the curtain on what it looks like to lead while wrestling with...
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#21: Why Inconsistency Drains Your Influence and How to Stop It
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
Are You Losing Influence Because of Inconsistency? Here’s How to Rebuild Trust. Every leader wants to be trusted. But trust isn’t built on charisma, strategy, or even vision alone. It’s built on consistency, the daily patterns and signals that tell people you are reliable, predictable, and worth following. In this episode of the MPWR Podcast, we dig into a leadership trap that is both common and costly: inconsistency. It doesn’t always look like a failure or a blow-up moment. In fact, it’s far more subtle—and that’s why it’s so dangerous. Influence isn’t lost in a...
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#20: Giving Feedback with Confidence (Without Burning Bridges)
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
When was the last time you avoided giving someone feedback because you didn’t want to hurt their feelings? In this episode of MPWR, we delve into the quiet cost of avoiding feedback and how it shapes or fractures workplace relationships. You’ll hear thought-provoking moments like: “It felt easier to stay silent than risk rocking the boat,” one guest admits—only to realize later that “that silence spoke louder than any words ever could.” We explore how this hesitation erodes confidence, stalls growth, and breeds misunderstanding. But there’s another side...
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#19: When Your Stress Becomes Their Problem — How Leaders Can Stop the Spillover
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
Is your stress quietly sabotaging your team’s performance? Stress at the top doesn’t stay at the top. It moves — quietly and powerfully — through every layer of your organization. It trickles down into tense boardroom conversations, subtle shifts in team morale, and even the unspoken undercurrents that define your company culture. One raised eyebrow in a meeting can create hesitation. One clipped response can send ripples of uncertainty through an entire department. In this candid MPWR episode, we unpack what happens when leaders unconsciously let stress leak onto others — and...
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#18: The Psychology of Micromanagement: Fear, Control, and Leadership Failure
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
You’ve heard the word micromanagement tossed around in leadership circles. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself: What’s underneath it? In this episode of the MPWR Podcast, host Eric Pfeiffer peels back the layers of control, fear, and trust that define modern leadership. This isn't a surface-level chat about delegation; it’s a deep dive into the emotional and psychological drivers behind micromanagement. At the heart of micromanagement is something most leaders rarely admit: the fear of letting go. Fear of losing relevance. Fear of mistakes. Fear that if we loosen our grip,...
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#17: Out of the Fog: Regaining Clarity, Confidence, and Direction in Leadership
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
Why Do Great Leaders Still Feel Lost? And What to Do When You’re Stuck in the Fog On this episode of the MPWR Podcast, host Eric Pfeiffer dives into one of the most overlooked but transformative leadership tools: personal clarity. You can have the team, the talent, and the strategy but if you’re unclear on who you are, where you’re going, and why it matters, everything starts to shake. Your confidence, communication, and connection all depend on your internal alignment. “Leadership clarity isn’t just about what you’re trying to accomplish—it’s about who you...
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#16: Reignite Alignment When Your Team Feels Disengaged (Without Starting Over)
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
You’ve checked all the boxes as a leader but your team still feels disconnected. Why? You’ve done everything “right.” You’ve cast a compelling vision, clarified your values, and set measurable goals. You’ve had the meetings. You’ve checked in. You’ve even communicated expectations with precision. But somehow—your team still feels… off. Disengaged. Maybe even resistant. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your team isn’t keeping pace—or worse, why they seem checked out—this episode is for you. In this power-packed conversation, we dive deep into one of...
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#15: Dodging Difficult Conversations? Here’s What It’s Really Costing You
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
We think silence keeps the peace but sometimes, silence is the most destructive lie we tell. Welcome to The MPWR Podcast with Eric Pfeiffer, where real leadership means having the conversations others won’t. This episode tackles one of the most universal yet avoided challenges in leadership, work, and life: avoiding hard conversations. We’ve all done it; biting our tongues, walking on eggshells, telling ourselves it’s “not worth it” or “not the right time.” But what is this really costing us? “Avoidance feels safe in the moment, but it’s expensive over...
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#14: Leading When You’re Triggered: Mastering Emotional Hijacks
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
How Do You Lead When You’re Triggered? We’ve all been there: the meeting turns tense, someone pushes your buttons, your heart rate spikes and before you know it, you’re reacting in a way you regret. But here’s the truth: “Emotional reactivity doesn’t disqualify us as leaders. Avoiding it does.” In this episode, we’re diving deep into one of the most overlooked leadership challenges: how to lead when you’re emotionally triggered. ✅ Learn why emotional intelligence isn’t about never getting upset but recognizing when you’re hijacked and knowing...
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#13: From Tools to Transformation: How to Move from Learning to Leading
MPWR Podcast | Become The Leader YOU Want To Follow
At some point, every leader faces the same question: Am I actually applying what I know? Welcome to a new chapter of the MPWR Podcast. This episode isn’t just a continuation, it’s a turning point. If you’ve been with us through Season 1, you’ve walked through our core leadership toolkit—practical, powerful tools designed to help you lead with clarity, courage, and conviction. But today, we take things a step further. Because leadership doesn’t stop at learning, it begins when you live what you’ve learned. In this transformative episode, your hosts reflect on the...
info_outlineWe think silence keeps the peace but sometimes, silence is the most destructive lie we tell.
Welcome to The MPWR Podcast with Eric Pfeiffer, where real leadership means having the conversations others won’t.
This episode tackles one of the most universal yet avoided challenges in leadership, work, and life: avoiding hard conversations.
We’ve all done it; biting our tongues, walking on eggshells, telling ourselves it’s “not worth it” or “not the right time.” But what is this really costing us?
“Avoidance feels safe in the moment, but it’s expensive over time. It costs trust. It costs clarity. It costs real connection."
In this candid conversation, Eric breaks down:
✅ Why so many of us default to avoidance—even when we know it hurts us
✅ The psychology of conflict avoidance: fear of rejection, fear of escalation, fear of discomfort
✅ What these unspoken truths do to relationships, teams, and cultures over time
“When you avoid telling the truth because it’s uncomfortable, you’re not protecting them—you’re protecting yourself.”
Eric draws on personal stories and real-world examples of conflict avoidance—from corporate boardrooms to family dinner tables.
He also integrates wisdom from the classic communication playbook Crucial Conversations, which reminds us:
“People don’t get defensive because of what you’re saying. They get defensive because of why they think you’re saying it.”
According to Harvard’s Program on Negotiation:
“Difficult conversations are a normal—and necessary—part of healthy relationships. Avoiding them can damage trust, foster resentment, and undermine collaboration.” (Harvard PON)
Imagine leading with honesty, even when it’s hard.
Picture yourself having the confidence to say what needs to be said without cruelty or cowardice. To tell the truth in a way that preserves dignity and deepens trust.
This episode is your guide to leaning in when your instincts want you to lean out.
“Silence isn’t neutral. When you choose not to speak, you choose to let fear do the talking.”
By tuning in, you’ll learn:
✅ Why avoidance is a short-term comfort but a long-term liability
✅ Simple frameworks to prepare for and start hard conversations
✅ Techniques to speak with candor and compassion
✅ How to turn difficult talks into opportunities for real understanding
As Eric says:
“Your ability to lead is directly tied to your ability to have the conversations others run from.”
Don’t let unspoken resentments or hidden truths undermine your relationships or leadership.
Ready to stop avoiding what really matters?
🎧 Listen now to this episode of The MPWR Podcast.
Learn how to face the hard conversations head-on—with courage, clarity, and heart.
Because real leadership isn’t about avoiding discomfort. It’s about embracing it—for the sake of growth, trust, and true connection.
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Are you ready to unlock your full potential and lead with purpose, clarity, and conviction?
The MPWR Podcast, hosted by Eric Pfeiffer, CEO of MPWR Coaching, is your go-to space for transformational conversations, powerful insights, and practical strategies to help you step into the next level of your leadership journey. Whether you're scaling your business, seeking greater alignment in life, or stepping into your calling—this podcast will challenge, inspire, and empower you.
Want more tools to accelerate your growth? Head over to mpwrcoaching.com where you'll find free resources, game-changing books, and programs designed to elevate your mindset, build resilience, and transform the way you lead—from the inside out.
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